Apparatus for rectifying and concentrating liquids.



D.'S MONTEITH. APPARATUS FOR RECTIFYINVG AND CONCENTRATING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION 'FILED FEB. l4. I911]. 1-,?,349.,

Jn venlfor e/Zanka'b 7 LHAQMM/H filzorney atented July 2, 1918.

Charlotte, in the count i Apparatus for Bectifying and DICKSON S. MONTEITH, 01* CHARIELOTTE, T10

BETH

GARQLINA. ASSEGIQ'OR T0 CHEMICAL NORTH CAEQLINA.

APPAARATUS BOB RECTIFYILTG ANT GGF'CENTfiATI IIQUEBS.

int ace.

Application filed February 14, 5.818.

a To an whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Bronson S. Monrnrrri, ,a citizen of the United States, residing at of Mecklenburg, and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concentrating Liquids, of which the following is a specification. i

My invention relates to an apparatus for rectifying and concentrating liquids, such as acids, or a mixture thereof, While not necessarily restricted-to this use.

Important objects of the invention are to provide a concentrator of the above men.- tioned character, which is expeditious in operation, can be automatically controlled, in. which the vapors generated can be condensed Without contact with and dilution by fuel gases or excess air, in which the heat from the escaping gases is utilized for preheating the cold acid descending through the rectifier, and in which electrical means are pro,- vided forheating the acids to be copcentrated thereby enabling the apparatus to be constructed in a compact manner.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification,

The figure is a central vertical longitudinal section through apparatus embodying the invention.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 desig nates a concentrating chamber, having its walls formed of bricks 2, or other suitable material adapted to resist the action of the acid. The chamber 1 is inclosed within, a lead casing .or lining 3. The lead casing 8 is preferablyfaced upon its inner side with an asbestos felt lining 4, which is saturated with silicate of soda, or other acid resisting liquid to protect the lead 3. The lead casing 3 is disposed Within an outermost casing 5, which may be formed of Wood. The outermost casing is disposed upon a foundation 6, as shown. The top of the chamber 1 is covered by abridge wall 7 formed of brick or other acid resisting material and this top has an opening 8, adapted to be closed by a cover 9, formed of suitable material.

The numeral 10 designates a rectifying and concentrating tower formed upon one end of the chamber 1. This tower is prefer 5pecificatien of Letters Eatent.

Patented July a1, 3918.

aerial-Ho. 21?,ii92.

ably formed of bricks ll or other acid resisting material. The tower 11 has a longitudinal bore or chamber 12, receiving a filling 13 of aggregates, such as mineral aggregates which are not acted upon by the acid. These mineral aggregates form a mass having openings or voids therein whereby the vapors from the concentrated acid may readily pass therefrom. The filling 13 is supported by vertically arranged bricks 14:, disposed to provide vertical passages or ports 15, for the passage of the acid and the gases. The upper end of the tower 10 is covered or closed by a bridge 16, having an opening 17, formed therein, for receiving a supply conduit 18, which conducts the acid into the upper end of the tower, as is obvious. The numeral 12 designates a passage, having one end discharging into thebore 12, below the bricks 14-, and its opposite end leading into thechamber 1, as shown.

The numeral 19 designates a condenser, having a cooling jacket 20, for the reception of cooling liquid, such as Water. The water is supplied into the jacket 20 through a pipe 21, and discharges therefrom throi gli a pipe 22. Leading into the upper end of the charrber 12 is a vapor takeoff pipe 23, which is bent upon itself to provide a U-shaped por tion 24, arranged within the condenser casing 19, as shown. The upper end 25 of the shaped portion 24.- is open to the atmosphere, as shown.

he numeral 26 designates aconcen'trated acid take-cit pipe, leading into the chamber 1. This pipe may be equipped with a valve 27. The pipe 26 discharges into an acid collecting receptacle 28, having a draw-ofl pipe 29. A cooling coil 30 is arranged within the receptacle 28, to cool the acid therein.

Projecting into the chamber 1, are heating Q5 electrodes 31, formed of suitable materiabu such as acid resisting iron. These electrodes. are vertically adjustable and operate withiiifi openings 32. The electrodes 31 have connec tion with a Wire 33, having connection withlflfl a source of current 34. The upper ends of the electrodes have swiveled connections, as shown at 35, with screw-threaded rods 36, and also preferably insulated therefrom. These IscreW-threaded rods are vertically movable "within openings 37, but have no screw-threaded engagement therein. These openings are formed in tran v rse 198113533,

acid then passes through the voids filling and through the passage 12 into the concentrating chamber 1. After a suitable amount of acid is fed into the concentrating chamber the circuit connected with the electrodes 31 is closed and the electrodes heated, which in turn heats the acid to a temperature to cause the same to boil, thereby driv- 1n tamed therein. The heated vapors pass through the passage 12' and upwardly through the voids in the filling 13. These heated vapors therefore heat the filling, which in turn heat the acid discharged thereon, effecting a rectification and partial concentration thereof, prior to the passage of the acld into the concentrating chamber 1. The heated vapors then discharge through the pipe 23 into the U-shaped portion 24, within the condenser 19. \Vithin this U- shaped portion the vapors are reduced in temperature to the point above the boiling point of water, whereby any of the vaporized acid is concentrated and may be withdrawn through the pipe 25 while the vapor containing water and the like discharges from the upper end of the pipe 25. In starting the apparatus, a suction fan or the like may be connected with the outlet end 25, to start the circulation of the vapors through the pipe 23, but as soon as the condensation of the vapors in the U-shaped portion 24 commences the heated vapors circulate freely therethrough. The concentrated acid is withdrawn through the pipe 26 and is discharged into the receptacle 2.8, and properly cooled therein by the coil 30, before being withdrawn from the pipe 29.

When the supply of acid to be concentrated is furnished to the apparatus in a uniform manner, as to strength and volume, and the electric current being uniform, the apparatus becomes self-regulating, and the strength of the acid produced is/ in ratio to the current used. The current is preferablysingle phase alternating current of a reasonable phase or voltage, and this current will cause the acid to be rapidly heated, and boil violently.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example the same. and that various changes in the Shape. size, and arrangen'ient of parts may be re sorted to without departing from the spirit off the water and other vapors c0n of .the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In apparatus for rectifying and concentrating liquids, a concentrating chamber, electrical heating means for the chamber including electrodes extending therein, a tower having means of communication with the concentrating chamber and receivingv heated gases therefrom and'serving'to supply the acid or the like to the concentrating chamber, a gas outlet pipe leading from the upper portion of the tower, and aconcentrated liquid draw-off pipeleading from the concentrating chamber.

2. In apparatus for rectifying and concentrating liquids, a concentrating chamber, electrical heating means for the chamber including electrodes extending therein, a

tower provided near its lower end with a passage which leads into the concentrating chamber, a filling of aggregates arranged within the tower and having voids for the passage therethrough ofthe gases, means for supplying the acid or the like to be concentrated into the upper end of the tower, a condenser including an outlet pipe connected with the upper end of the tower, and a concentrated liquid draw-off pipe having'communication with the concentrating chamber.

3. In apparatus for rectifying and concentrating liquids, a concentrating chamber, vertically movable electrodes having tions thereof disposed within the cham er,

means to vertically adjust the electrodes, a source of current having electrical connection with the electrodes, a tower arranged near the concentrating chamber'and provided near its lower end with a passage which leads into the concentrating chamber, a filling of aggregates arranged within the tower and having voids for the passage therethrough of gases, means to supply acid or the like into the upper portion of the tower, a gas outlet conduit having means of communication with the upper portion of the tower,- and outlet means for the concentrating chamber.

i. In apparatus for rectifying and concentrating liquids, a concentrating chamber, vertically movable electrodes having portions thereof disposed within the chamber, a source of current having electrical connection with the electrodes, a tower arranged near the chamber and having its lower end in free communication with the concentrating chamber, a gas outlet pipe leading from the upper end of the tower and provided with an approximately U-shaped portion, cooling means surrounding the said U-shaped portion, liquid outlet means connected with the lower portion of said U- shaped portion, and means for supplying acid or the like intothe upper portion of the tower.

54in apparatus for rectifying and concentrating liquids, a concentrating chamber, electrical means disposed within the chain her to heat the contents thereof, atower arranged near the concentrating chamber and having its lower end in free communication therewith to receive gases therefrom,

electrical heating means arranged within the shell, a tower arranged near the concentrat- 15 ing chamber and having its lower end infree communication therewith to receive gases therefrom, a filling for the tower having voids for the passage of the gases, and means for feeding acid or the like into the 20 tower.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DICKS'ON s. MONTEITH.

v Witnesses N, LOUISE HUNTLEY, N. R. MARSH. 

